Internet television program guide system with embedded real-time data

ABSTRACT

An Internet television program guide system is provided that allows a user at a multimedia system to access television program listings containing embedded real-time data over an Internet communications link. The television program listing may be for a sporting event that is currently being broadcast and the real-time data may be the current score of the event, the current weather where the event is taking place, or any other suitable real-time information on the event. The real-time data may be presented in the form of video stills, video clips, textual information, audio clips, or suitable combinations of such media. The user can perform database searches on the program guide listings to search for a desired program. If desired, the user can obtain additional information on a selected program by accessing an associated web page.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/891,494 filed Jun. 25, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/107,012 filed Jun. 30, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No.6,268,849), which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the Internet, and more particularly, totechniques for providing television program guide information andservices with embedded real-time data to a user over the Internet.

A large number of television channels are available over cabletelevision systems and satellite television systems. Television viewershave traditionally had to consult preprinted television program listingsto determine which programs were scheduled to be broadcast on aparticular day. More recently, television-based program guides have beendeveloped that allow television viewers to view television programlistings directly on their television sets.

For example, the Prevue® channel is a scrolling television programlistings service that a cable system operator may make available tosubscribers over a dedicated cable channel. Viewers can tune to theappropriate television channel to view program listings for televisionprograms that are currently being broadcast and are scheduled to bebroadcast in the next few hours. Although the Prevue® channel is avaluable service, the viewer is somewhat constrained by the passivenature of the service. For example, the viewer cannot view televisionlistings for the next day or week.

As a result, more advanced television program guide services have beendeveloped that allow a service provider to deliver television programlistings data to a user's set-top box. The program listings data istypically delivered over the television cable system infrastructure(e.g., on a given television channel during the vertical blankinginterval or over an out-of-band channel). Software in the set-top boxallows the user to display the television program listings on the user'stelevision set.

These program guide services allow the user to manipulate the televisionlistings by searching or sorting through the listings using criteriasuch as genre, channel, and broadcast time. An example of such aninteractive television program guide is the Prevue Express® guide ofPrevue Networks, Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., the assignee of the presentinvention.

Although passive scrolling guides and interactive set-top box guides areuseful sources of television program guide information, millions ofusers with personal computers were not able to obtain on-line televisionprogram listings using such systems. In addition, users were notgenerally able to view selected promotional video clips, interviewsegments, audio clips, or other multimedia material related to a giventelevision program.

In order to meet these demands, television program guide systems thatprovide television program listings from a web server to a user'smultimedia system over an Internet communication link were developed.For example, the Prevue Online® service available on the Internet athttp://www.prevue.com from Prevue Networks, Inc. of Tulsa, Okla., theassignee of the present invention, provides television program listingsover an Internet communication link. Users can gain access to the PrevueOnline® web site on the Internet through any Internet service provider(such as through the WorldNet™ service available from American Telephoneand Telegraph Company of New York, N.Y.). Once at the home page of thePrevue Online® service, the user may access information using commonlyavailable web browser software.

Although Internet television program guide systems that providetelevision program listings from a web server to a user's multimediasystem over an Internet communications link are useful sources oftelevision program guide information, the user is somewhat constrainedby the static nature of the information available. The user is able todetermine from the television program listings that an event (e.g., asporting event or other game) is in progress, but the user cannot,viewthe current status of the event. For example, the user cannot receivereal-time information about whether a game is suspended, whether thegame is in overtime, the current score, etc.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide atelevision program guide system that provides television programlistings with embedded real-time data from a web server to a user'smultimedia system over an Internet communications link.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a televisionprogram guide system that allows users to click on text or still imagesto view additional information related to the embedded real-time data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the invention are accomplished in accordancewith the principles of the present invention by providing an Internettelevision program guide system, that displays television programlistings with embedded real-time data. A computer system having a medialibrary and a data server is used to provide multimedia clips andrelated television program guide data for the system. The multimediamaterial and related television program guide data may be provided to aweb server for redistribution to a user's personal computer or othersuitable multimedia system.

Dynamic information regarding events in progress that are beingtelevised may be provided to the web server from one or more informationprocessing facilities. Such dynamic information may be linked withrelated static information in the media library and/or the data serverto provide the user with additional information pertaining to the eventsin progress. The web server provides the static and dynamic informationto the user's multimedia system via an Internet communications link.

The user's multimedia system has a processing unit for receiving andprocessing information from the Internet communications link. Theprocessing unit may be based on a personal computer running a standardweb browser with plug-ins. The multimedia system may also have thecapability to receive television signals.

Television program listings with embedded real-time data are preferablyprovided to the user's multimedia system in the form of web pages.Because such an arrangement allows the use of the widely-adoptedhypertext transfer protocol (http), a user with a personal computer canaccess information using commonly available web browser software.Because television program listings with embedded real-time data aredistributed over the Internet, the user can access this information atremote locations. For example, the user can access the televisionprogram listings with embedded real-time data while traveling by car(e.g., using a cellular modem), from a hotel room or business meeting,from a personal computer at work, or in any suitable environment inwhich there is a link to the Internet. The user can receive this dynamicinformation from locations not covered by cable or satellite systems orlocations where the user may not have access to cable or satelliteservice.

Because the Internet television program guide system with embeddedreal-time data may be provided using a web site having a number oflinked web pages, supplemental information related to the embeddedreal-time data can be provided to the user. Such supplementalinformation might include statistics pertaining to the teams and/orspecific athletes that are participating in a game. The supplementalinformation may be provided using any suitable media format such asanimation, full motion video, sound, still images, or text.

Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantageswill be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing how a media library, data server,and data inputs from information processing facilities may beinterconnected with a web server and various multimedia systems inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustrative display containing a home page for an Internettelevision program guide system with embedded real-time data inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative display containing a map-based menu foridentifying a geographical area of interest in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustrative display containing a map-based menu for asmaller geographical area than the area shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an illustrative display of a menu offering access to varioustypes of program listings as alternatives to access to local programlistings in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustrative display presenting various program guideoptions to the user in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an illustrative display containing weather information.

FIG. 8 is an illustrative display presenting various program guideoptions related to the way in which television program guide listingsare organized on the user's display screen in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is an illustrative display containing television program guidelistings organized by time in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an illustrative display of information on an event selectedby the user and related options in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is an illustrative display presenting a menu of channelselections in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an illustrative display containing television program guidelistings organized by channel in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an illustrative display containing icons representingcategory options in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an illustrative display containing television program guidelistings organized by category in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An Internet television program guide system 8 for providing televisionprogram listings with embedded real-time data in accordance with thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 1. Television program information isstored in media library 12 and data server 14 of main facility 10. Medialibrary 12 preferably contains an array of compact disc read only memory(CD-ROM) disks, digital video disks (DVDs), or other suitable media forstoring multimedia content. Media library 12 contains television programclips and related interviews and reviews. Media library 12 may alsocontain video clips and related interviews and reviews from previouslytelevised sporting events. The television program information stored inmedia library 12 is primarily video information.

Data server 14 maintains various databases of television programinformation. For example, data server 14 maintains a television programlistings database. Data server 14 may also have a remote media databasecontaining descriptions of the videos in media library 12. In addition,data server 14 may have a database containing statistical information onvarious sports teams (e.g., National Football League teams, NationalHockey League teams, National Basketball Association teams, etc.), aswell as information on the players of each team. Data server 14 may havea cable system operator database containing channel lineups, informationon the time zone of the operator, weather data for the operator'sregion, data on the zip codes in the cable system operator's area, etc.Other databases may be supported by data server 14 if desired. Thetelevision program information in data server 14 is primarily innon-video formats.

Media library 12 and data server 14 may be interconnected withtransmission server 16 via internal network 18. In addition toinformation received from media library 12 and data server 14,transmission server 16 receives information from one or more real-timedata processing facilities 20, 22, 24 and 26 via network links 30 and 32and/or via satellite links 34 and 36. Media library 12, data server 14,network 18, and transmission server 16 including its links make upcomputer system 100. Television program information may be stored ondata server 14 in a relational database format and may be stored ontransmission server 16 in an object-oriented database format. A buildingprocess implemented in the C⁺⁺ programming language can be used toperiodically build a temporary data set of television programinformation (e.g., a seven-day to one-month data set) for storage ontransmission server 16.

Transmission server 16 receives dynamic or real-time data to bedisplayed with a corresponding program listing for an event in progressthat is being televised or with any other program listing to which thereal-time data is of relevance. Such real-time data may include weatherdata, sports scores, video stills, video and audio clips, interviewsegments, etc. The real-time data received by transmission server 16from processing facilities 50 is embedded within the television programlisting of the corresponding televised event in progress or within anyother program listing to which the real-time data is of relevance. Forexample, if transmission server 16 receives real-time data frominformation processing facility 22 such as the score in a basketballgame being played between the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls thatis being televised on the MSG channel, the current score of the game isembedded within the row of text of the corresponding television programlisting which indicates that the New York Knicks v. Chicago Bulls gameis being televised on MSG from 8:00 P.M. EST to 11:30 P.M. EST.Similarly, real-time data pertaining to the weather may be embeddedwithin the program listing of an outdoor event such as a marathon, whichmay be in progress and being televised or which may be scheduled to betelevised in the near future.

Television program information including television program listingsinformation and related real-time data may be transferred fromtransmission server 16 to web server 55 via communications line 52.Communications line 52 may be part of an internal network or may be astandard dedicated communications line. Data may also be transferredfrom transmission server 16 to web server 55 via satellite. Web server55 can be connected to the Internet 60 via communications link 56.Communications link 56 is preferably a telephone network link or othersuitable Internet communications path.

If transmission server 16 and web server 55 are separate devices, asshown in FIG. 1, transmission server 16 can be used as a common dataprocessing facility for other applications which use the type of datastored on transmission server 16. If desired, the functions oftransmission server 16 and web server 55 can be integrated in a singlemachine. Similarly data server 14 and transmission server 16 can beintegrated in a single machine with separate logical functionalities.

Web server 55 uses a standard protocol such as the TCP/IP (TransmissionControl Protocol/Internet Protocol) and hypertext transfer protocol tomake television program information available over the Internet 60 tousers at multimedia systems 70, 72, 74, and 76 via communication links62, 64, 66, and 68, respectively. Communication links 62, 64, 66, and 68are Internet links formed from telephone lines, radio-frequency (RF)links, cable modem links, satellite dish links, combinations of linkssuch as these, or any other suitable Internet connection paths.

Multimedia systems 70, 72, and 74 may be standard modern laptops,notebooks, or desktop computers with multimedia and Internetcapabilities. Multimedia system 76 uses an integrated personal computerand television 78, such as the Gateway 2000 Destination® PC-TV hybridavailable from Gateway 2000 Inc. of North Sioux City, S. Dak. Televisionsignals are provided at input 80. Internet access is provided viaInternet communications link 68.

During operation of system 100, certain data processing functions, suchas user-initiated searches and sorts, may be performed on web server 55.If desired, such functions can be performed on a suitable dataprocessing component in one of multimedia systems 70, 72, 74, or 76.

Regardless of the specific configuration of the multimedia systems usedin the system of FIG. 1, the user of such a multimedia system has thecapability to access an interactive Internet television program guidehaving embedded real-time data within its program listings using webserver 55. The features of the program guide are available using thepersonal computer functions of the user's multimedia system. If it isdesired to use certain program guide features that rely upon the controlof a tuner or recording unit, the multimedia system should also have theability to tune to a desired television program from among the varioustelevision programs provided at input 80 and have the ability to recordthat program automatically, under the control of commands from abuilt-in processing unit.

The system hardware shown in FIG. 1 is illustrative and other suitablehardware arrangements may be used if desired. Regardless of theparticular hardware system that is used, however, the present inventionpreferably provides the television program guide to users over theInternet in the form of multiple web pages that use the standardhypertext transfer protocol (http). In the system of FIG. 1, web pagesand associated program guide features (such as searching, etc.) areprovided using web server 55.

Because the television program guide is provided using web pages, thefeatures of the program guide may be accessed using standard webbrowsers operating on the appropriate processing unit in the user'smultimedia system. For example, in multimedia system 72 of FIG. 1, a webbrowser may be implemented using the computer's built-in processingunit. Suitable web browsers include the Internet Explorer® web browserof Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash. and the Netscape Navigator®web browser of Netscape Communications Corporation of Mountain View,Calif. Such web browsers support the viewing of various types ofmultimedia content, such as video stills (JPEG or GIF files) and videoand audio clips (AVI, MOV, and MPG files). If desired, certain of thesemultimedia support functions may be provided as web browser plug-ins(i.e., special software modules designed to enhance the features of aweb browser application). A suitable video player plug-in for MOV filesis the Quicktime® application of Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino,Calif. AVI and MPG (or MPEG—Motion Picture Expert Group) files may beplayed using the ActiveMovie® application of Microsoft Corporation.

An illustrative welcome page 200 for the television program guide of thepresent invention is shown in FIG. 2. Web browser function keys 226 helpthe user to navigate through web pages of material such as welcome page200. Users may also navigate by clicking on an image or an element ofhighlighted text with cursor 242, which may be controlled by a pointingdevice such as a mouse or trackball. Other arrangements for selectinglinks may be used if desired. Web browser function keys 226 include backand forward keys that allow the user to navigate backward and forwardalong a browsing trail. Web browser function keys 226 are not shown inthe other drawings, but are shown in FIG. 2 to illustrate the types offunction keys that are available with a standard web browser.

Welcome page 200 may contain identifying logos 228. Identifying logos228 allow a user to quickly associate a service provider with theInternet television program guide service. If desired, welcome page 200can contain summary instructions 230 that inform the user of some of thefeatures available with the guide. The summary instructions 230 may, forexample, inform the user that the guide provides embedded real-time datawithin the program listings of televised events in progress. Other webpages (not shown) may contain links that point to welcome page 200.

An important aspect of the Internet television program guide provided bysystem 8 (FIG. 1) relates to providing on-line television programlistings that contain real-time data on televised events in progress.The user may be presented with a number of choices regarding the type ofon-line program listings that are available. In addition, the user maybe provided with an opportunity to access supplemental real-timeinformation on the events in progress based on the program listings theuser displays. For example, the user may be presented with theopportunity to select between go local option 236, go national option238, and go satellite option 240. After the user has selected one ofthese options, the user may access dynamic information pertaining toevents in progress which are being televised and thus appear in theprogram listings for the option chosen by the user.

If the user desires to select go local option 236, the user may beprompted to enter a zip code for the local area of interest in box 244.If service is available, the program guide system presents the user withinformation for an appropriate local system operator's television lineupbased on the zip code information. If the user is unaware of the zipcode of the region where the event in progress is being televised, theuser can select a local area by entering information such as a cablesystem operator's name, the name of a city, international country andcity information, etc. Another way in which the user may select a localservice area of interest is using a map-based graphical user interface.As shown in FIG. 3, the user is presented with United States map 302.The user selects a state of interest using cursor 304. If necessary,additional maps containing greater levels of detail are provided, eachallowing the user to make further geographical selections. Ultimately,the user is presented with a local map (e.g., a map that allows the userto select from several available cable system operators). In map 306 ofFIG. 4, the user can select between three available cable systemoperator regions: region 1, region 2, and region 3.

If no local service is available, the user may be provided with pickagain page 320 as shown in FIG. 5. Pick again page 320 provides the userwith another opportunity to select go national option 238 or gosatellite option 240. In addition, pick again page 320 provides the userwith select a city option 322, which is associated with a lessrestrictive set of program information than go local option 236 (FIG.2). With select a city option 322, the user may select a desired citywhere the event in progress is being televised using arrow key 324 (oralternatively, could type the name of the city directly into box 326).After entering the desired city, the city information is submitted tothe system by clicking on submit button 330. Because select a cityoption 322 is less localized than go local option 236, choosing select acity option 322 makes it more likely that there will be a set of programlistings available for the user.

If service is available for the user in either the city selected in cityoption 322 or the localized geographic area selected in go local option236, the user is presented with local cable site page 350 of FIG. 6,which is customized to reflect the local geographic area or cityselected by the user. Local cable site page 350 may contain a welcomemessage 352 that is customized to reflect the name of the local cablesystem operator.

A number of options 354 may be presented as hypertext links toassociated web pages. An image 356 is displayed that changes as the userplaces cursor 242 (FIG. 2) on top of each option 354. For example, theimage 356 of FIG. 6 is presented when the user positions cursor 242 overprogram guide option 360. Different images are displayed as cursor 242passes over each option 354. The images 356 to be displayed may bestored as bitmap images. This technique of presenting context-sensitiveimages to illustrate the current position of the cursor over hypertextlink options is preferably used throughout the Internet televisionprogram guide service.

Various web pages may be displayed depending on which option 354 isselected by the user. For example, an option 354 that is available onlocal cable site page 350 (FIG. 6) is local weather option 364.Selecting local weather option 364 takes the user to local weather page400 (FIG. 7). If desired, a map-based menu (such as shown in FIGS. 3 and4) or other user input arrangement can be used to provide the user withthe opportunity to select additional cities for which weatherinformation is desired.

Program guide option 360 allows the user to access television programlistings that can be organized by time, channel, and category and can besearched. Selecting program guide option 360 takes the user to programguide menu page 500 (FIG. 8). The user may reach program guide menu page500 (FIG. 8) from go national option 238 (FIGS. 2 and 5) or go satelliteoption 240 (FIGS. 2 and 5). If the user selected go local option 236(FIG. 2), the user may reach program guide menu page 500 (FIG. 8) byselecting program guide option 360 on local cable site page 350 (FIG.6). The user may also reach program guide menu page 500 (FIG. 8) viaselect a city option 322 (FIG. 5). Each of these paths to program guidemenu page 500 requires that slightly different user selections be made.

Go local option 236 (FIG. 2) requires that a user specify a particularlocal region (or cable system operator) of interest to reach local cablesite page 350 (FIG. 6). To reach program guide menu page 500 (FIG. 8)from local cable site page 350 (FIG. 6), the user selects program guideoption 360.

Go national option 238 (FIGS. 2 and 5) requires that a user select adesired time zone (e.g., eastern, central, mountain, or pacific). Toreach program guide menu page 500 from welcome page 200 (FIG. 2) or pickagain page 320 (FIG. 5), the user selects program guide option 284.

Go satellite option 240 (FIGS. 2 and 5) requires that the user select adesired satellite provider 286. To reach program guide menu page 500from welcome page 200 (FIG. 2) or pick again page 320 (FIG. 5), the userselects program guide option 288.

Select a city option 322 (FIG. 5) requires that the user enterinformation specifying a particular city. The user reaches program guidemenu page 500 from local cable site page 350 (FIG. 6) after the usersubmits the city information by clicking on submit button 330.

Regardless of which option is used to reach program guide menu page 500(FIG. 8), information is preferably retained by the system thatindicates which selections have been made by the user. Retaining thisinformation allows subsequently displayed program listings and otherinformation to be automatically customized to reflect the user'sselections.

As shown in FIG. 8, program guide menu page 500 may be constructed fromtwo smaller web pages: top web page 502 and a bottom web page 504. Topweb page 502 contains graphics and text-based options 508 that arecommon to many different system operators. Bottom web page 504 maycontain system specific promotional materials, such as pay-per-viewvideo promotion 506. Dividing program guide menu page 500 in this wayallows system resources to be used more efficiently than would otherwisebe possible, because the common material in top web page 502 can be usedfor more than one local cable system.

Options 508 allow the user to choose how to display various programlistings for the user's preselected region of interest (national,satellite, or local). Typical options 508 include by time option 510, bychannel option 512, by category option 514, and search option 516. Theuser may, based upon category options 514, locate an event by choosingthe corresponding category. If the event sought by the user is a game inprogress which is being televised, then the user may select sports asthe category by which program listings are to be displayed. The user maythus be able to locate the sporting event of interest along with itsreal-time embedded data and any associated supplemental information.

If by time option 510 is selected, the user is presented with by timepage 600, as shown in FIG. 9. By time page 600 contains program listings620 that are organized in channel order from top to bottom and bybroadcast time from left to right. In by time page 600, the programs inprogram listings 620 may be listed beginning with programs that arecurrently being broadcast. For example, if the current time is between1:30 P.M. and 2:00 P.M., program listings 620 may begin with programsthat start at 1:30 P.M. Programs in program listings 620 that arereflective of televised events in progress provide dynamic informationabout those events by way of embedded real-time data 650. Embeddedreal-time data 650 may be displayed adjacent to a program title, asshown in FIG. 9. Program listings 620 can be identified as events inprogress by stating that the broadcast is “LIVE” and/or bydistinguishing the appearance of live program listings from those thatare prerecorded by virtue of color, text, etc.

If the user is aware that a televised event is in progress, the user mayuse by time option 510 or other suitable display option to display thedesired program listing. The user can visually locate the programlisting of interest and the corresponding real-time data within thelisting because of its distinguishing appearance.

The user can also select the search option 516 and can search forprogram listings by title, channel, rating, etc. The user may search fortelevised sporting events in progress by selecting a channel dedicatedto sports. Similarly, if the user knows the title of a sporting eventand wishes to view the current score or other information in real time,the event and its corresponding embedded real-time data can be locatedby conducting a search by title.

Cursors 622 and 624 (FIG. 9) are used to navigate to earlier or latertime periods, respectively. Web browser cursors 626 and 628 allow theuser to scroll through the program listings. The user may also navigatethe program listings with time navigation buttons 630. For example, ifthe user would like to view program listings that begin in the morning,the user clicks on the morning navigation button 630. If the user wouldlike to view program listings for programs currently being broadcast,the user may click on the current navigation button 630. Programlistings for different days in the month may be viewed by selecting theappropriate day from calendar buttons 632. Similarly, informationregarding events televised live in the past can be viewed by the user byselecting the day of the event from the calendar. The program listingdisplayed in that event would reflect the final score, if the event wasa game, in addition to other information that was made available to theuser at the time the event was being televised.

The user can choose between various available view options by selectingthe appropriate time, channel, category, or search button from amongview buttons 634. View buttons 634 take the user to the same web pagesthat are presented when the corresponding options 508 of FIG. 8 areselected. For example, by channel option 512 and channel view button 634are both linked to by channel page 760 (FIG. 11).

Another component of by time page 600 and various other web pagesprovided by the present system is program information box 636. Programinformation box 636 provides supplemental information on the selectedtelevision program listing. The contents of program information box 636change as different program titles are selected from program listings620. For example, the user has clicked on the entry “Knicks v. Bulls” inprogram listings 620 of FIG. 9. As a result, the contents of programinformation box 636 reflects this selection. If the program titleselected by the user corresponds to an event in progress which is beingtelevised (e.g., a basketball game), then program information box 636may reflect static as well as dynamic information about the event. Inthe above example, program information box 636 might contain staticinformation such as the program title (e.g., Knicks v. Bulls) or therunning time of the program (e.g., 2:45). Program information box 636might also contain real-time data such as the current score (e.g.,Knicks: 43; Bulls: 42, half time . . . ), highlights of the game (e.g.,Knicks first lead in the game, shot putting Knicks ahead made by PatrickEwing at half time buzzer . . . ). Program information box 636 may becustomized to reflect additional information in a different sequence aswell.

If the user selects a program that is not a televised event in progress,the program information box 636 provides solely static informationpertaining to the selection made by the user. For example, if the userselects a movie, then the program information box 636 typically containsthe program title (e.g., Primal Fear), the running time of the program(e.g., 2:09), a brief description of the program (e.g., A hot shot . . .), and a description of the program type or genre (e.g., drama movie).The program description may contain information on the actors in theprogram, the director, etc. Program information box 636 typicallyprovides a rating of the program, such as a star rating (e.g., threestars) or the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) rating formovies or the television rating for television programs.

If the user desires to view additional supplemental information relatingto the selected program, the user may click on closer look icon 638 (oralternatively, on any portion of box 636), which takes the user toprogram information page 700 (FIG. 10). Program information page 700 mayprovide both static and dynamic information relating to the selectedprogram listing. If the program listing selected by the user is for atelevised game in progress, the information displayed on programinformation page 700 could reflect the statistics 702 of the teamsand/or individuals that are playing. In addition, additional informationcould also include video stills, video and/or audio clips of key shotsmade or missed by players 720, interview segments 725, etc. A user canalso click on a graphic or text link to the web site of a network orother source of information.

By channel page 760 of FIG. 11 is presented when the user selects bychannel option 512 from program guide menu page 500 (FIG. 8) or when theuser clicks on a channel view button, such as channel view button 634 ofby time page 600 (FIG. 9). By channel page 760 contains channel list762. Channel list 762 may be arranged in channel number order and maycontain associated icons 764 for certain channels. A user can click oneach individual channel 766 in channel list 762 to obtain a list ofprogram information based on the selected channel. For example, the usermay select a sports channel to view dynamic information pertaining to agame in progress being televised on that particular channel.

When a channel 766 is selected, the user is presented with channelprogram list page 800, as shown in FIG. 12. The selected channel in theexample of FIG. 12 is channel 2. In channel program list page 800,program listings 802 for the selected channel may be arranged in timeorder, beginning with the current time. If programs in program listings802 extend into the next day, the programs may be separated by dateseparation bar 804. Embedded real-time data may appear with the programname in program listings 802, as real-time weather data 807 appears nextto the title “College Football Army vs. Navy” in FIG. 12. Title bar 806contains information identifying the currently selected channel.

By category page 840 of FIG. 13 is presented when the user selects bycategory option 514 from program guide menu page 500 (FIG. 8) or whenthe user clicks on a category view button, such as category view button634 of by time page 600 (FIG. 9). By category page 840 contains categorylist 842, which may be presented in the form of category icons 844. Auser can click an individual category icon 844 in category list 842 toobtain a list of program information based on the selected category. Forexample, the user may choose sports as a category to view a list ofsports programs.

When a category is selected, the user is presented with category programlist page 860, as shown in FIG. 14. In category program list page 860,program listings 862 may be arranged in time and channel order,beginning with the current time and date. Although the category programlist page 860 depicted in FIG. 14 is based upon the selection of themovies category, a similarly arranged sports category program list wouldhave been displayed had the user selected the sports category. Moreover,if the sports event was then in progress and being televised, embeddedreal-time data would appear with the program name in program listings862. Program listings 862 contain the channel information for eachprogram adjacent to the program title. If a user wishes to view programinformation for a given channel, the user may click on one of thedisplayed channels. The user is then presented with a program list thatis restricted to programs appearing on the selected channel.

If desired, the program list that is displayed in category program listpage 860 may be limited to programs appearing in the next 24 hourperiod. The user may view information for later days by clicking on theappropriate day in calendar buttons 866.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this inventionand various modifications can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

1. A media guidance system for providing media listings with real-timedata embedded within the media listings and additional real-time data toa user at a multimedia system over an Internet communications link,comprising: a computer system for providing media listings withreal-time data embedded within the media listings and additionalreal-time data, wherein said computer system comprises computer readablemedia for storing said media listings with embedded real-time data andsaid additional real-time data; and a web server for receiving the medialistings with embedded real-time data and the additional real-time datafrom the computer system, and for providing the media listings withembedded real-time data and the additional real-time data to themultimedia system over the Internet communications link in response to auser request to access the media listings, said multimedia systemcomprising computer readable media for: receiving said media listingswith embedded real-time data and said additional real-time data,displaying said media listings, automatically displaying said embeddedreal-time data with said media listings in response to a user request toview all listings, and in response to receiving a user selection of oneof said media listings with embedded real-time data, simultaneouslydisplaying with the media listings and embedded real-time data, in anarea of the screen outside of the media listings, said additionalreal-time data, wherein said additional real-time data comprises textualinformation related to the selected media listing.